I Will Share

A while ago I spent the whole month teaching the  lesson, "I Will Share" from the manual

"Behold Your Little Ones". It worked for a little while but has gotten worse since then. 

Alexis will take a toy from her younger siblings and tell them, "I will share." Of course her sharing is one sided. Today was really bad. Alexis did not want her sister to have any toys. I can only take screaming for so long from anyone.

I know that they love each other and have good times. It just feels that lately that is far and in between. 

 

I got a note from school saying that Alexis' behaviors were a yellow for the day because she was eating her classmates' food. I don't know what to tell her teachers because I struggle with that one too. Apparently it is more one sided "I will share."

Venting

Sometimes I wish Alexis did not have sensory issues. 

Yesterday was a very hot day, well into the 90's. Our house does not have central air and the only way to be comfortable is to have our window units running. Alexis hates fans. Her room is the hottest so that is where we put the unit. She would not go to sleep. Always standing in her doorway saying that she had to go to the bathroom or that her back hurt or I want it off. She is not a quiet person. She has two volumes, loud and louder. After awhile it grates on me. So at midnight I finally turned it off. It was a hot night. Today was not any better. 

I moved Alexis' bed across the room so she would not be near the window unit. I put her to bed at 8:30pm and her protests began before she even went into her room. I don't know why but today it really tested me and made me angry. I really hate that Alexis is so sensory sensitive. Sometimes I don't realize how much we do to accommodate her until something like this happens.

She shares a room with her sister. I just want both of them to sleep well. Anyways, I was so frustrated I had to leave the house and walk. I wasn't that far from my house when I heard my neighbor yelling at her kids to go to bed. It was a comfort to me to know that I am not the only one with struggles. 

I don't know if being Alexis' mom is hard because it's all I know. I am sure I would have other battles if she weren't special needs.

 

Special Olympics - Track & Field 2010

 

This last Friday was Special Olympics: Track & Field. It was scheduled for the previous Friday but the weather report was bad so they rescheduled and the day was so beautiful. It was breezy and comfortable.

Alexis competed in two events this year: the fifty meter dash and the softball toss. I was a little disappointed that she was in only two events. Last year she was in at least three. She gets so excited to race.

 

She didn't get to participate until after lunch. Waiting was hard for her. She was ready to go. Her first event was the Softball Toss. This cracks me up. It never goes very far. I don't even know if she likes doing this one. I do know is that she likes to have everyone clap for her. Who doesn't? It feels good to be supported.

 

Alexis got fourth place. Lucky for her she really doesn't care. She just aims for certain color. She prefers the yellow ones (third place). I love her!

  

    

Alexis' last event was the Fifty Meter dash. We practice at home by going for walks and we cheer her on. I always get emotional when she races. There is just so much joy at these events. Alexis got a blue ribbon for this one (first place) only because she didn't race anyone else. Ellie wanted to run too. It was cute.

 

Alexis is number one!

Teeth

I had to take Alexis to the dentist today. On Monday she chipped her tooth. No one knows for sure how it happened. The dentist said it was just a little bit of the enamel and that she should be fine. However, he referred us to another dentist in East Lansing that specializes in children with special needs just in case. So well will see how things go there. I did ask if Alexis would benefit from braces and he said no. He said that she would have straight teeth but they would be rotted by the time she was done. Too bad.

AHHHHHHH!!!!!

I screamed at Alexis today. I am just so frustrated with her. She is compelled to eat. I used to be able to keep her eating under control by having the fridge locked and then I gated off the kitchen. Because our family is too big to fit around the kitchen table, we have moved to the dinning room table. I have a 23 month old who doesn't eat enough so I set her plate out on the dinning room table to let her eat when she feels like it. However, Alexis zones in on it and eats the food before her sister can finish her meal. Ugh!!! If Alexis had it her way she would eat and eat and eat. I just don't want her to be so over weight she is unable to do anything. She already believes she is limited in some ways.

I don't know how to stop her...